Amid rumours of the Union Budget being presented on 1 February, the Supreme Court on Friday refused an urgent hearing on a plea seeking that the Union Budget for 2017-18 be deferred till April.
The public suit by advocate ML Sharma came in the wake of the staggered election dates being announced for five state assemblies between 4 February and 8 March.
Presenting the budget during the above dates would violate the Model Code of Conduct, which has come into force with the announcement of the election schedule, the petitioner contended.
A bench of Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar, Justice NV Ramana and Justice DY Chandrachud said that they would decide the issue when it comes in its normal course.